Art Hill. | Mabel Suen
Get outside this weekend! Fair Saint Louis awaits with plenty of festival fare: The World's Largest Catsup Bottle Festival hits Collinsville, Illinois; the Saint Louis Art Museum kicks off its free summer film series on Art Hill; Eckert's fruit is just the right level of ripeness and more. Just take your pick!
Friday (July 5):
Fair St. Louis @ Gateway Arch "It's the Fourth of July and you're in St. Louis, which means it's hot, humid and time to party... The traditional kick-off for Fair Saint Louis is followed by three days of air shows (five of 'em this year), fireworks every night and a whole bunch of sweaty patriots." Friday, July 5, and Saturday, July 6, from noon to 10 p.m. Admission is free.
Murphy-Goode Wine Tasting @ Vin de Set Head to the rooftop for wine samples from Murphy-Goode to enjoy with grilled appetizers prepared by chef Dirk Yeaton. Tickets cost $15 and are available online. 4 to 6 p.m.
Outdoor Film Series: Casablanca @ Art Hill Saint Louis Art Museum's summer film series kicks off with a showing of Casablanca by moonlight. Pack your own picnic or let someone else do the cooking. The museum's new cafe and Panorama restaurant serve food till 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., respectively, and food trucks including Lulu's Local Eatery, Seoul Taco and Zia's show up on the scene ready to dish out eats at 7 p.m. Admission is free. The movie begins at 9 p.m.
Saturday (July 6):
Pick Your Own Fruit @ Eckert's "Picking for peaches is available daily from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m at 99 cents per pound; blackberry picking is open 8 a.m. to noon on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekends for $2.99 per pound."
Fruits & Nuts of Tropical Mesoamerica Photo Exhibition @ Missouri Botanical Garden Check out these high-resolution photo prints which spotlight fruits and nuts native to the Maya and Aztec areas of Mesoamerica. It's all a part of the larger Foodology program hosted throughout the summer. Admission is included with garden admission. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Harvest Sessions @ Tower Grove Farmers' Market Enjoy a delightful summer soundtrack from folk-indie group Arthur and the Librarian while stocking up on fresh produce, goods and snacks from your local farmer. Free. The market runs from 8 a.m. to noon, with music from 10 a.m. to noon.
Sunday (July 7):
World's Largest Catsup Bottle Festival @ American Legion Post 365; Collinsville, Illinois Catch up with a variety of entertainment including a hot-dog and tater-tot eating contest, ketchup tastings and plenty of grub and stuff to buy from food and craft vendors. Admission is free. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Bloody Mary Bar @ Ritz Carlton Indulge in a signature bloody mary bar for $14 per drink. Create your own, or choose from house options such as the "Ritz-Carlton," with Stoli Elite Vodka, housemade tomato juice, trapani salt, basil and cucumber garnish and the "Brave" with Absolute Peppar Vodka, housemade tomato juice, hot sauce, habanero salt, cracked black pepper and a pickled jalapeno garnish. Every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Honey Harvest and Bee Banquet @ Jackson-Mills City Bees Scott Jackson and Shane Mills will harvest fresh honey, sold at Maude's Market, straight from city beehives in their back yard. Bring a bee, honey or summer-inspired dish to share. RSVP and get location details by calling Maude at 314-353-4219. Free. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Pair up for a class or two @ Kitchen Conservatory Parent and child can partake in "Heir and a Parent: The Hunger Games," a hands-on cooking class that cooks up dishes from the popular book from 1 to 3:30 p.m., or couples can get together for a special Bourbon Street themed date night cooking class from 5 to 7:30 p.m. The class are $75 and $125, respectively. Register online via the Kitchen Conservatory website.
